Manager, Materials Quality, Management Strategy

Role & Responsibilities:

The Manager, Strategy – Material Quality plays a pivotal role in shaping and driving the end-to-end Material Quality (MQ) strategy, governance, and transformation agenda across suppliers, regions, and categories.

This role is responsible for elevating the Supplier Certification Program (SCP 2.0) into a dynamic, risk-based Supplier Performance Management (SPM) system, enabling data-driven decision-making, proactive risk mitigation, and continuous improvement across the supply chain.

Key Responsibility Area:

1. Strategy & Governance Leadership

• Define and drive the global MQ strategy, governance framework, and operating model to ensure alignment across regions, supplier tiers (T1/T2), and material categories

• Establish MQ as a data-driven, risk-based function, integrated with sourcing, product stewardship, and quality operations

2. SCP 2.0 Transformation & Control Tower

• Lead the evolution of SCP into a dynamic supplier performance and risk management system (SCP 2.0)

• Transform SCP into a strategic control tower for supplier performance management, enabling real-time insights and proactive intervention

• Define supplier segmentation, certification logic, and performance governance

3. Supplier Performance & KPI Framework

• Design and deploy standardized global supplier KPI frameworks and scorecards, including:

  • Defect rate, replacement/chargeback
  • Supplier Performance Audit and inspection outcomes

• Enable performance transparency and benchmarking through dashboards and reporting systems

• Link supplier performance to consequence management and support material sourcing for business allocation decisions

4. Risk Management & NCR (Non-Conformance Response)

• Develop and operationalize a risk-based framework and NCR model for material quality

• Establish predictive risk identification and early warning systems leveraging data and analytics

5. Process Excellence & Operating Model Design

• Design and implement end-to-end MQ SOPs and workflows, including:

  • Supplier onboarding and certification

• Drive One-VF harmonization of processes and eliminate fragmented practices

6. Digital & Data Strategy (TrueView Enablement)

• Own the MQ digital roadmap, including:

  • TrueView platform enhancement
  • Supplier KPI dashboards
  • Material traceability and analytics systems

• Establish data governance, standardization, and single source of truth across MQ ecosystem

• Enable predictive analytics and actionable insights for decision-making

Competency Requirements :

Behavioral Competencies -

• Build trust and strategic work Relationships with leadership team, cross-function and external partners

• Build Good communication and teamwork with external/internal stakeholders

• Solid negotiation skills and superior ability to influence areas outside of direct control

• Business acumen in channel distribution, gross sales, sell-out performance margin, profit and inventory.

• Engaged and committed team-mate; able to successfully operate in areas of uncertainty and ambiguity.

• Result-driven and strong motivation to succeed; self-starter and quick learner; calm and efficient under pressure

Functional Competencies –

• Strong knowledge of:

  • Material manufacturing processes (mills, laminations, coatings, polymer, leather etc.)
  • Industry quality standards and project management

• Proven experience in supplier quality management and capability building

• Demonstrated ability to lead risk management and root cause problem-solving

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable quality improvements

• Experience working in cross-functional and matrix organizations

• Effective stakeholder management and influencing skills at regional/global level